In the News

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/27/2022

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 27:4-7Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (see 2a)1 Corinthians 15:54-58Luke 6:39-45February 27, 2022 In Sirach we hear, “so in tribulation is the test of the just.”  We face “tribulation” (i.e. distress) in our world today.…

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A Troubled World

By Fr. Jeff | 02/22/2022

One does not have to look far to see that we live in a troubled world. We have been dealing with the Coronavirus for two years now. Right now, the number of cases in the United States has dropped significantly…

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What Do We Want to be Different in 2022?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/04/2022

Last week I wrote an article about new year’s resolutions (“A New Beginning”). Today I will share some thoughts about what we might be looking forward to in 2022. I think the thing most obvious thing that we would all…

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The Communion Debate

By Fr. Jeff | 11/30/2021

There is confusion over the question of who can receive Communion in the Catholic Church. The question comes up in the news because of prominent politicians who are Catholic but support abortion. Unfortunately, this leads to the politicization of the…

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A Polarized People

By Fr. Jeff | 11/23/2021

I recently saw a news headline where a health official involved in the government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic said he did not cause political divisiveness. He is right. We have been becoming a polarized people for some time. This…

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Using the News to Pray

By Fr. Jeff | 10/18/2021

In previous articles like, “What’s in the News,” I have written about why I think it is important to follow the news. Watching the news we typically hear more discouraging news than uplifting news. Recently, I have begun trying to…

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Respect Life October 2021

By Fr. Jeff | 10/05/2021

Each year during the month of October the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life month. Life is always precious from the moment of conception till natural death. We need to respect life and promote the dignity of…

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What About My Freedom?

By Fr. Jeff | 09/14/2021

Various states are passing laws supporting life in the womb. Life is a precious gift that begins at conception. This is not simply something I believe in faith. In my article, “Biology Makes Me Pro-Life”, I provide a non-religious reason…

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What’s in the News

By Fr. Jeff | 08/03/2021

One of the things I like to write about here is current events in the news. At times I have also considered starting a discussion group about current events. I believe it is important to reflect on what is going…

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If It’s All About Me…

By Fr. Jeff | 01/29/2021

Relativists say you can believe whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt anyone. For relativists, the truth is what you want it to be. For them, it seems, it’s all about me. We pray for them to know…

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“For I Know Well the Plans”

By Fr. Jeff | 01/26/2021

It is no secret that 2020 was a difficult year. A number of my blog articles in the last year reflect that. In particular, there were the articles, “2020: What a Year!” and “2020 is Over!”. Now, we try to…

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Building Peace

By Fr. Jeff | 01/18/2021

In our opening prayer at Mass today (Monday, January 18th, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time), we pray asking God to bestow his “peace on our times.” We live in a world with division and hatred. Today we celebrate the Martin…

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Tolerance, Hate Speech, and Dialogue

By Fr. Jeff | 01/12/2021

“Tolerance” has become a frequently used word.  We do well to ask ourselves what does it mean to “tolerate.”  Why?  Because I think it is being used beyond its actual meaning.  It seems to me that it is being used…

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My Fourth and Final Article on “Fratelli Tutti”

By Fr. Jeff | 11/20/2020

I have finished my fourth and final article in my series, Our Relationships With Others, reflecting on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti.  As I complete this series, please note that the four articles do not cover the entirety of the…

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Seeking Real Dialogue

By Fr. Jeff | 11/16/2020

I just completed the third article, “Seeking Real Dialogue”, in my series, “Our Relationships With Others”. In the first two articles I took an instructive approach. In this third article, I continue to seek to help readers understand what Pope…

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Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

By Fr. Jeff | 11/15/2020

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AProverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (1a)1 Thessalonians 5:1-6Matthew 25:14-30November 15, 2020 Proverbs speaks of the “worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.”  She is praised for the good she does as…

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Second Article Reflecting on Pope Francis’ Encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti”

By Fr. Jeff | 11/12/2020

I just posted to my website the second article, “The Right to Private Property and Loving Our Neighbor” in my series, “Our Relationships With Others” reflecting on Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. I hope it is helpful for you.…

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Reflecting on Pope Francis’ new encyclical – “Fratelli Tutti”

By Fr. Jeff | 11/10/2020

I recently finished reading Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti On Fraternity and Social Friendship.  I read it in book form (Cottbus, Germany:  HijezGlobal Press. 2020).  You can also find it online on the Vatican website at http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html. I found…

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2020: What a Year!

By Fr. Jeff | 10/23/2020

Dear Lord, It has been a challenging year and we still have two months to go.  The challenges have come in various ways. Perhaps the one most obvious to all is the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Our greatest concern is for those…

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Feeling Powerless

By Fr. Jeff | 09/15/2020

Recently I was watching the news about the wildfires on the West Coast. They say that over 4 million acres have burned this year. California has already passed their record for the number of acres burned in a single year…

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More Shootings, More Stress

By Fr. Jeff | 08/20/2020

It’s hard to know but it seems like I have heard of increasing numbers of acts of violence (mainly shootings). I currently serve in a parish about thirty minutes outside of Rochester, NY. Last weekend, Rochester had three separate shootings…

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Praying for the Unemployed and Underemployed

By Fr. Jeff | 08/07/2020

Today, August 7th, has a couple of different options at Mass listed for saints. All are optional in the United States. The first option listed is for St. Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr and his companions. They were martyred for…

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What’s in the News

By Fr. Jeff | 08/06/2020

One of the things I like to write about here on my blog is current events in the news. I also desire to incorporate current events into my homilies. I think this is important because we need to show our…

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We Face Difficult Times

By Fr. Jeff | 08/04/2020

As a church, as the people of God, we face difficult times. Right now, we are dealing with the Coronavirus. We are celebrating public Masses (with face masks and social distancing), albeit with smaller numbers as people stay home to…

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Being Civilized in the Midst of Challenges

By Fr. Jeff | 06/23/2020

We face challenges in our world today.  Of course, there has been challenges as long as there has been people making bad choices with their free will.  There has also being illnesses that challenge us but do not know why…

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